The Flag Tire That Changed Rivka Berman’s Life

Rifka Berman had almost stopped believing her turn would ever come. One by one her friends from school had gotten married, built homes, and raised children while she remained painfully alone. Every conversation about strollers, diapers, or family life felt like another knife to the heart. On her 40th birthday she promised herself she wouldn't cry, but she found herself eating birthday cake through tears. Then came the day that seemed like the worst day of all. She had just returned from a miserable date when suddenly she got a flat tire. Frustrated and exhausted she called a friend for help. The friend brought the tire to a small repair shop owned by the father of a friend who even opened the shop specially for them. As Rifka thanked him, the owner looked at her in surprise. "You're not married?" he asked. "Maybe maybe you should meet my oldest son." The suggestion sounded completely absurd. They had never met before. They didn't know each other. He knew nothing about her and she knew nothing about his son. Under normal circumstances she would have immediately said, "No." But this time for some reason she said, "Okay, maybe." They dated. To her surprise she discovered a kind, thoughtful fellow with warmth, ambition, and deep sensitivity. Slowly their relationship grew into something real and then, against all expectations, the two of them got engaged. Later Rifka couldn't stop thinking about one simple question. What would have happened if she had never gotten that flat tire? You know, sometimes the moments that feel like life is falling apart are actually the moments when everything is finally coming together.